About the position
As an integral leader within Bucknell’s NCAA Division I athletics program, the Senior Associate Athletics Director, Student-Athlete Health & Performance will oversee and elevate the athletics program’s health and performance strategy, integrating elite care with innovation to support the success and well-being of over 700 scholar-athletes. This position is instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence that aligns with the university’s mission of education, innovation, and ethical conduct. The role combines strategic leadership with operational oversight, guiding a transdisciplinary team across sports medicine, strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental health, and recovery to deliver unified, athlete-centered care. This leader will work closely with the Director of Athletics and collaborate with the Bucknell medical community and campus medical partners to position Bucknell as a leader in injury prevention, performance innovation, and holistic athlete development. The role includes sport oversight, including football and will serve as Bucknell University’s NCAA Health Care Administrator.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a forward-thinking performance innovation strategy to achieve competitive excellence across all 27 NCAA Division I programs.
- Embed University values into all aspects of the health and performance unit.
- Lead initiatives that establish Bucknell as a leader in student-athlete health care and performance.
- Build a collaborative leadership culture that integrates medical, performance, and coaching teams into cohesive units.
- Cultivate partnerships with academic, risk management, medical, and campus sectors to advance health and performance solutions.
- Guide and mentor a diverse team of specialists, fostering a shared vision of athlete-first care and integrated performance support.
- Design and promote systems for cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment in planning, execution, and evaluation.
- Establish holistic, data-informed reconditioning protocols to ensure safe and effective return-to-play processes.
- Leverage technology and analytics to inform shared decision-making and maximize performance and reduced injury outcomes.
- Implement evidence-based practices through innovative data collection and analysis systems.
- Drive a culture of continuous learning, equipping staff and student-athletes with skills for agile problem-solving and adaptive growth.
- Ensure scholar-athletes receive tailored care, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
- Collaborate with the athletic leadership development programs that prepare athletes for life beyond sport, emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and self-mastery.
- Manage personnel, budgets, resource allocation, electronic medical record protocols, and facility operations to deliver premier services to student-athletes and staff.
- Accountable for the successful implementation and oversight of the student-athlete medical insurance offering.
- Establish quality control processes that uphold the highest standards in health and performance.
- Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and innovation.
Requirements
- Master’s Degree in Kinesiology, Sport Science, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
- Minimum of 4 years in a leadership role within the medical and/or performance role.
- Ten or more years of experience in NCAA environments.
Nice-to-haves
- PhD in Kinesiology, Sport Science, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
- 8+ years in a leadership role within the medical and/or performance role.
Benefits
- Flexible scheduling options determined by role.
- Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance options.
- An outstanding 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan (no contribution requirement for non-exempt positions).
- Generous paid time off, including vacation and sick time, a community service day, and 19 paid holidays (including two full weeks off for Winter Break!).
- Tuition remission for employees and their spouses/spousal equivalents, and various tuition programs for their children.
- A comprehensive employee wellness program including program incentives.
- Parental leave, an employee assistance program, fitness center membership.
